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Woman gets probation after plea change in Pitt meth ring

Jan 3, 2014 - By Kelli Ameling, Staff Writer

A Lander woman faces five years probation in connection with the Timothy Pitt methamphetamine bust.

During a pretrial hearing in December, Shene Springfield, 38, of Lander, pleaded guilty to conspiring to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

However, due to a plea agreement, Springfield will face only a five-year probation sentence.

"It's a pretty good deal Mr. Jeppsen has for you," said District Court Judge Norman E. Young. "Don't blow it."

On July 9, Springfield --along with Travis Fauque, 21, of Lander, and Lyle Haukaas, 34, of Hudson -- pleaded not guilty to one charge each of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine between Feb. 14 and May 22.

Springfield was among seven arrested in the extensive countywide-drug investigation involving wiretapping, surveillance and the use of confidential informants.

In an affidavit, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agent Brady Patrick alleged the subjects were part of a drug-distribution network headed by another defendant, Timothy Pitt, 31, of Hudson.

During the pretrial hearing Dec. 17, Springfield changed her plea from not guilty to guilty in exchange for the plea deal.

"Are you absolutely sure this is what you want to do?" Young asked.

After hesitating, Springfield replied tearfully, "Yes, sir."

To verify her guilty plea, Young asked Springfield to describe how she conspired to deliver a controlled substance.

Springfield said she met Pitt at a casino in April 2013, and they became friends. At the end of April, she said they were having problems, and she thought he might have been seeing someone else.

"He wouldn't want to hang out, and he would fall through on plans," Springfield said.

During a visit at a relative's, she said they got into an argument, and that's when she found out Pitt was doing drugs.

"His uncle from the sheriff's office called and said they were watching him, and he needed to stop doing drugs," Springfield said. "That is when he told me he owed a lot of money to dealers, and was gambling to try to pay them back."

Young asked how that story was enough to charge her with conspiracy.

Springfield said she continued to stay with Pitt after he told her about the drugs, and she would go to houses of "friends" and wait in the car while he ran in to get money.

"I never delivered or bought (drugs)," Springfield said, crying.

Young asked if she knew what Pitt was doing, and Springfield replied, "Yes."

Young accepted the guilty plea but did not enter a conviction, which was part of the agreement.

If Springfield complies with her probation for five years, the charges will be dropped. If she does not comply with probation, she will be charged and sentenced.